Game machine circuit board case inspection method, and game board or game machine inspection method

ABSTRACT

In a game machine circuit board case inspection method, the inspection of a circuit board case  39  storing a control circuit board  38  having a predetermined electronic part  47  mounted thereon is performed through a seal confirming step  15  for confirming whether or not the circuit board case  39  has been sealed by sealing means  49  and  50 , and an intrinsic identification information reading step  18  for reading the intrinsic identification information  48  on said electronic part  47  stored in the circuit board case  39  after the seal confirming step  15 . Thereby, the reading of the intrinsic identification information affixed to the electronic part on the control circuit board in the circuit board case, and the confirmation of the sealed state of the circuit board case can be reliably effected, thus preventing dishonest acts, such as replacing the electronic part by a new one in the inspection step and allowing the new one to read a dishonest intrinsic identification information.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a game machine circuit board caseinspection method, and a game board or game machine inspection methodand is such that after the sealed state of a circuit board case has beeninspected, intrinsic identification information on the electronic partson a control circuit board stored in said case is inspected.

BACKGROUND ART

In a shot ball game machine, such as a pachinko machine, predeterminedgame parts including a starting means, a pattern display means, and abig prize means are mounted in the game region of a game board. Inplaying a game, game balls are shot to the game region by shootingmeans. And, if a game ball is detected by the starting means, under thecondition of this detection a plurality of patterns in the patterndisplay means are varied for a predetermined time, and whether a specialgame state is to be generated or not is decided on the basis of a randomnumber obtained under the condition of this variation. If there is adecision to the effect that the special game state should be generated,a patterns after the variation is stopped in a particular manner,whereupon the special game state to open the opening/closing plate ofthe big prize means is generated. The big prize means closes theopening/closing plate when a predetermined time has passed since theopening or when a predetermined number of game balls win prizes duringthe opening. Further, under the condition that game balls pass throughthe particular region, the special game state, that is, the opening ofthe big prize means, is repeated predetermined times at a maximum.

Game moves taking place in the game board, including lottery or the liketo decide whether or not such special game state is to be generated, arecontrolled by a main control circuit board stored in a main circuitboard case on the back of the game machine main body. Therefore, ifpredetermined electronic parts including ROMs on the main controlcircuit board are dishonestly replaced by those which provide a higherprobability of generation of the special game state or the like, thespecial game state can be easily generated.

Accordingly, the method heretofore employed is such that as thepredetermined electronic parts including ROMs, those having intrinsicidentification information, such as a serial number, applied thereto areused on the one hand and on the other hand after the main controlcircuit board having the predetermined electronic parts mounted thereonhas been stored in the main circuit board case, the latter is sealed bya sealing means which, when opened, will leave a trace of opening.Thereby, if such sealing means are inspected in game parlors or thelike, the presence or absence of a dishonest act can be decided, e.g.,by the presence or absence of a trace of opening the sealing means, orby a difference in the intrinsic identification information on theelectronic parts.

In assembling a pachinko machine or the like provided with a circuitboard case disposed on the back of the game machine main body and havingsuch main control circuit board stored therein, it is necessary for gamemachine makers to confirm and record the intrinsic identificationinformation on the electronic parts and to reliably seal the maincircuit board case by the sealing means.

In the prior art, however, since the intrinsic identificationinformation on the electronic parts and the sealing state of the sealingmeans are visually confirmed by the operator in the inspection stepsubsequent to the assembling of a pachinko machine, there is a danger ofomission of inspection or the like to overlook the state of the sealingmeans despite the fact that the sealing means has not sealed.

Further, in the case of confirming the intrinsic identificationinformation on the electronic parts prior to sealing the main circuitboard case and then sealing the main circuit board case by the sealingmeans, it cannot be absolutely denied that between the confirmation ofthe intrinsic identification information on the electronic parts and thesealing of the main circuit board case, there is a dishonest act, e.g.,to open the main circuit board case to replace the main control circuitboard by a new one and to let the latter read a dishonest intrinsicidentification information.

With these prior art problems in mind, the invention has for its objectthe provision of a game machine circuit board case inspection method,and a game board or game machine inspection method, which are capable ofreliably effecting the reading of intrinsic identification informationapplied to electronic parts on a control circuit board in a circuitboard case and confirming the sealed state of a circuit board case andalso capable of preventing a dishonest act, e.g., to replace electronicparts and let them read dishonest intrinsic identification informationin an inspection step.

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION

The invention provides a game machine circuit board case inspectionmethod which inspects a circuit board case 39 storing a control circuitboard 38 having a predetermined electronic part 47 mounted thereon, themethod comprising a seal confirming step 15 for confirming whether ornot said circuit board case 39 is sealed by sealing means 49 and 50, andan intrinsic information reading step 18 for reading the intrinsicidentification information 48 on said electronic part 47 in said circuitboard case 39 subsequent to said seal confirmation step 15. Therefore,the reading of the intrinsic identification information 48 applied tothe electronic part 47 on the control circuit board 38 in the circuitboard case 39, and the confirmation of the sealed state of the circuitboard case 39 can be reliably effected. Furthermore, since the intrinsicidentification information 48 is read after the confirmation of thesealed state, it is possible to prevent a dishonest act, e.g., toreplace the electronic part 47 by a new one and let the latter readdishonest intrinsic identification information 48 in an inspection step.

Another present invention provides a game board or game machineinspection method which inspects a game board 23 or a game machine 20having a circuit board case 39 storing a control circuit board 38 havinga predetermined electronic part 47 mounted thereon, the methodcomprising a seal confirming step 15 for confirming whether or not saidcircuit board case 39 is sealed by sealing means 49 and 50, and anintrinsic information reading step 18 for reading the intrinsicidentification information 48 on said electronic part 47 in said circuitboard case 39 subsequent to said seal confirming step 15. Therefore, thereading of the intrinsic identification information 48 applied to theelectronic part 47 on the control circuit board 38 in the circuit boardcase 39, and the confirmation of the sealed state of the circuit boardcase 39 can be reliably effected. Furthermore, since the intrinsicidentification information 48 is read after the confirmation of thesealed state, it is possible to prevent a dishonest act, e.g., toreplace the electronic part 47 by a new one and let the latter readdishonest intrinsic identification information 48 in an inspection step.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an explanatory view of a pachinko machine assembling line,showing a first embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a step diagram of the pachinko machine assembling line;

FIG. 3 is a front view of a pachinko machine;

FIG. 4 is a side view of the pachinko machine;

FIG. 5 is a back view of the pachinko machine;

FIG. 6 is a front view of an electronic part;

FIG. 7 is a front view of a management certificate stamp;

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of sealing means;

FIG. 9 is a structural view of a seal confirming line;

FIG. 10 is a block diagram of a seal deciding means;

and FIG. 11 is a structural view of an intrinsic information readingline.

FIG. 12 is an explanatory view of a pachinko machine assembling line,showing a second embodiment of the invention.

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

Each embodiment of the invention will now be described with reference tothe drawings. FIGS. 1 through 11 show by way of example a firstembodiment of the invention as applied to a pachinko machine assemblingline. In this assembling line, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, a game boardassembling line 2, a game board inspecting line 3, a front frameassembling line 4, an outer frame attaching line 5, a seal confirmingline 6, a main body inspecting line 7, a certificate stamp affixing line8, an intrinsic information reading line 9, and a packaging line 10 arelinearly arranged along a transfer line 1 having a plurality ofconveyors and other required devices suitably connected.

And, in this assembling line, a series of operations for assembling,inspecting and packaging a pachinko machine 20 are performed through agame board assembling step 11, a game board inspecting step 12, a frontframe assembling step 13, an outer attaching step 14, a seal confirmingstep 15, a main body inspecting step 16, a certificate stamp affixingstep 17, an intrinsic information reading step 18, and a packaging step19 in the respective lines 2 through 10.

The pachinko machine 20, which is a subject of assembly and inspection,as shown in FIGS. 3 through 5, comprises an outer frame 21, a frontframe 22 removably and openably/closably pivoted to said outer frame 21,a game board 23 removably mounted on the front frame 22, and a backmechanism plate 24 openably/closably mounted on the back of the frontframe 22. In addition, the otter frame 21 and front frame 22 constitutethe game machine main body.

The front frame 22 comprises a glass door 25, an upper tray unit 26, alower tray unit 27, a shooting means 28, etc. The game board 23 hasvarious game parts mounted in a game region 29, including a startingmeans 30, a pattern display means 31, and a big prize means 32, whilethe back of the game board 23 has a back cover 33 mounted thereon forcovering the game parts from the back. The back mechanism plate 24 has agame ball tank 34, a tank rail 35, a dispensing means 36, a passage unit37, etc., mounted thereon, the arrangement being such that in responseto a rental ball dispensation request, a prize ball dispensation requestor the like, the dispensing means 36 dispenses game balls in the gameball tank 34 as rental balls or prize balls into the upper tray unit 26.

The back of the back cover 33 has mounted thereon a main circuit boardcase 39 for storing the main control circuit board 38, a lamp circuitboard case 41 for storing a lamp control circuit board 40, an acousticcircuit board case 43 for storing an acoustic control circuit board 42,etc. Further, the back of the passage unit 37 has mounted thereon acircuit board case 46 for storing a power source circuit board 44 and adispensation control circuit board 45.

The main control circuit board 38, which controls game actions performedby game parts on the game board 23, has packaged thereon one or moreelectronic parts 47 including an IC element, such as a CPU, a ROM, and aRAM, the arrangement being such that game actions are controlled by theelectronic part 47. And, this electronic part 47, as shown in FIG. 6,has the model name of the pachinko machine 20, and the maker's nameindicated thereon, and besides these, it has intrinsic identificationinformation 48 added by the maker indicated thereon as by printing, insuch a manner that it can be deciphered from outside the main circuitboard case 39. The intrinsic identification information 48 consists of achip management number (serial number) and a chip lot number and makesit possible to specify the electronic part 47.

The main circuit board case 39, which is made of transparent syntheticresin material allowing the main control circuit board 38 to be seentherethrough, is openably/closably constructed as the need arises. Themain circuit board case 39 has one or more sealing means, e.g., two, afirst sealing means 49 and a second sealing means 50 installed atsuitable places on the back thereof for sealing the main circuit boardcase 39 in its closed state, and has a management certificate stamp 51for circuit board management affixed at a suitable place on the backthereof in such a manner that it cannot or can hardly be peeled.

The individual sealing means 49 and 50, as shown in FIG. 8, comprisepush-in type or other type sealing pins 52-55 and 56-59 for locking themain circuit board case 39 in its closed state, the arrangement beingsuch that after any one of the sealing pins 52-55 and 56-59 of thesealing means 49 and 50 has been pushed in to seal the main circuitboard case 39, the seal cannot be opened unless destructive sections60-63 and 64-67 disposed in the sealing pins 52-55 and 56-59 or in thevicinity thereof are destructed and such that when the seal is opened,traces of opening are left in the destructive sections 60-63 and 64-67.

The sealing means 49 and 50 have a plurality of, e.g., four sealing pins52-55 and 56-59 arranged in a row along the side edges of the maincircuit board case 39; ring-like projections 68-71 and 72-75 formed inthe main circuit board case 39 in such a manner as to surround the headsof the sealing pins 52-55 and 56-59; and destructive sections 60-63 and64-67 formed in the main circuit board case 39 to correspond to thesealing pins 52-55 and 56-59, thus allowing sealing and opening fourtimes. The sealing pins 52-55 and 56-59 have their heads normallyprojected by substantially the same degree as that of the projections68-71 and 72-75, the arrangement being such that when they are pushed into seal the main circuit board case 39, the heads are retracted from theprojections 68-71 and 72-75. When it is desired to open the main circuitboard case 39, the destructive sections 60-63 and 64-67 corresponding tothe sealing pins 52-55 and 56-59 which have sealed are cut fordestruction by a tool from the sides associated with the openings 83 and84, thereby opening the lock to the main circuit board case 39established by the sealing pins 52-55 and 56-59.

Of the four sealing pins 52-55 and 56-59, the first-time sealing pins 55and 59 used for the pachinko machine maker to seal the main circuitboard case 39 are colored with a color different from that of thesealing pins 52-54 and 56-58 in order to facilitate the confirmation ofthe sealing state in the seal confirming step 15. In addition, thesealing means 49 and 50 are substantially the same in construction, butthey may be of different kinds. Further the sealing pins 52-55 and 56-59may be different in color or they may be the same in color.

The management certificate stamp 51, as shown in FIG. 7, has the modelname of the pachinko machine 20 printed thereon, and besides this, it isprovided with a circuit board management number column 76, an openerentry column 77, an opening date entry column 78, etc. The circuit boardmanagement number column 76 has a predetermined circuit board managementnumber indicated thereon by the pachinko machine maker as circuit boardidentification information 79 intrinsic to the main control circuitboard 38 stored in the main circuit board case 39.

The game board assembling line 2 is a line for executing the game boardassembling step 11 for assembling the game board 23. In this game boardassembling line 2, devices including a nailer, and a rail assemblingmachine are arranged along the transfer line 1, and the game boardassembling step 11 is performed such that required parts aresuccessively mounted on a panel, such as plywood, supplied from theupstream region to complete the game board 23. The game board assemblingstep 11, as shown in FIG. 1, includes, e.g., a first step 80 formounting game nails and guide rail on the front of the panel, a secondstep 81 for mounting game parts, etc., outside and inside the guide railof the panel, and a third step 82 for mounting the back cover 33, themain circuit board case 39, etc., on the back of the panel, and it isthrough these steps, from the first step 80 to the third step 82, thatthe game board 23 is assembled.

In the game board assembling step 11, the main circuit board case 39having the first-time sealing applied thereto by the sealing pins 55 and59 on the end sides of the sealing means 49 and 50 is used, and it ismade impossible to apply dishonest work to the electronic part 47 on themain control circuit board 38 in the region downstream of the game boardassembling step 11. In addition, in this game board assembling step 11,the main control circuit board 38 may be put in the main circuit boardcase 39 and then the sealing pins 55 and 59 of the sealing means 49 and50 may be pushed in for sealing. Further, inspection steps includingnail inspection, game parts inspection, etc., may be included somewherein the game board assembling step 11 as the need arises so as to inspectthe game nails, the game parts, etc.

The game board inspecting line 3 is a line for executing the game boardinspecting step 12 for inspecting the game board 23 after the latter hasbeen assembled. This game board inspecting line 3 has a predeterminedinspection table disposed along the transfer line 1. And, the game boardinspecting step 12 conducts various inspections including whether or notthe electrically operated game parts and various inspection switchesmounted on the game board 23 are normal or whether or not theelectrically operated game parts etc., are normally operable by thecontrol of the main control circuit board 38. If there are defectiveparts in the game board 23, they are suitably repaired, and those whichcannot be repaired are removed through a removing conveyor 3 a, etc.

The front frame assembling line 4 is a line for executing the frontframe assembling step 13 for assembling the front frame 22. In the frontframe assembling step 13, the upper tray unit 26, back mechanism plate24, etc., are mounted on the front and rear of the front frame 22supplied from the upstream region, while the game board 23 inspected inthe game board inspecting line 12 is mounted on the front frame 22, withcables, etc., connected at required places to complete the front frame22. In addition, the game ball tank 34, dispensing means 36, etc., maybe mounted on the back mechanism plate 24 in advance.

The outer frame attaching line 5 is a line for executing the outer frameattaching step 14 for attaching the outer frame 21 to the front frame22. In the outer frame attaching step 14, the outer frame 21 is attachedto the front frame 22 completed in the front frame assembling step 13.This attachment of the outer frame 21 completes all the assembling ofthe pachinko machine 20.

The seal confirming line 6 is a line for executing the seal confirmingstep 15 for confirming whether or not the main circuit board case 39 hasbeen sealed by the sealing means 49 50 with the completed pachinkomachine 20 being a subject of inspection. The seal confirming line 6, asshown in FIG. 9, comprises a first conveyor 85 disposed on the transferline 1, a second conveyor 86 disposed downstream of the first conveyor85 and movable transversely (in a direction orthogonal to the transferdirection), a seal imaging means 87 disposed in the vicinity of the sideof the first conveyor 85, a seal deciding means 88 for image-processingthe image data obtained by the seal imaging means 87 and deciding, onthe basis of this processing, whether or not the sealing means 49 and 50have sealed, a display means 98 for displaying the image obtained byimaging, the result of the decision, etc., and a conveyor control means89 for controlling the first and second conveyors 85 and 86.

The seal confirming step 15 includes an imaging step 90 for imaging thesealing states of the sealing means 49 and 50 by the seal imaging means87, and a seal deciding step 91 for analyzing the image data obtained inthe imaging step 90 so as to decide whether or not the sealing means 49and 50 have sealed. When the assembled pachinko machine 20 reaches thefirst conveyor 85 of the seal confirming line 6, first the sealingstates of the sealing means 49 and 50 of the pachinko machine 20standing upright on the first conveyor 85 are imaged from the back bythe seal imaging means 87 in the imaging step 90, and then, in the nextseal deciding step 91, the image data are image-processed and whether ornot the sealing means 49 and 50 have properly sealed is decided on thebasis of the result of said processing.

The seal imaging means 87 comprises a first seal imaging camera 92 forimaging the first sealing means 49 of the main circuit board case 39,and a second seal imaging camera 93 for imaging the second sealing means50. The seal imaging cameras 92 and 93 are in the form of CCD cameras orthe like and are set in such a manner as to obliquely image the heads ofthe sealing pins 55 and 59 of the sealing means 49 and 50.

The first conveyor 85 is arranged such that during the imaging of thesealing states of the sealing means 49 and 50, the pachinko machine 20,which is a subject of inspection, is stopped at positions correspondingto the seal imaging cameras 92 and 93 and after the imaging of thesealing means 49 and 50, the pachinko machine 20 is transferred to thesecond conveyor 86. The second conveyor 86 is provided with atransversely moving cylinder 94 or the like, so that if the sealingmeans 49 and 50 have properly sealed, the pachinko machine 20 istransferred downstream along the transfer line 1. On the other hand, ifthe sealing of the sealing means 49 and 50 is defective, the cylinder 94is driven to guide the second conveyor 86 so as to move the lattertransversely along the guide rail 94 a in the direction of arrow a whichis substantially orthogonal to the transfer line 1, thereby removing thepachinko machine 20 from the transfer line 1 to the sealing workposition A, where the sealing mean 49 and 50 seal again and then thepachinko machine 20 is sent back to the transfer line 1 for transfer tothe downstream region.

In addition, the second conveyor 86 constitutes a removing line forremoving a pachinko machine 20 whose sealing means 49 and 50 havedefectively sealed from the transfer line 1 to the sealing work positionA. Therefore, between the seal confirming step 15 and the intrinsicinformation reading step 18, there is a removing step 113 for removing apachinko machine 20 whose sealing means 49 and 50 are not in theirsealing position from the transfer line 1, so that if there is apachinko machine 20 with defective sealing, the pachinko machine 20 isremoved to the sealing work position A in the removing step 113 by thesecond conveyor 86. At the sealing work position A, the sealing workstep 114 for pushing in the sealing pins 55 and 59 of the sealing means49 and 50 to effect sealing is executed, and the thus-sealed pachinkomachine 20 is sent back to the transfer line 1 by the second conveyor86.

The seal deciding means 88, as shown in FIG. 10, comprises an image datataking-in section 95 for taking in the image data from the seal imagingcameras 92 and 93 of the seal imaging means 87, a seal deciding section96 for deciding whether or not sealing is good or bad from the imagedata, a defect-indicating signal outputting section 97 for outputting adefect-indicating signal when the seal deciding section 96 decides thatthe sealing is defective, and an output section 99 for outputting theimage obtained by imaging, the result of decision, etc., to the displaymeans 98 on the basis of the data, signals, etc., from the image datataking-in section 95, the seal deciding section 96 and defect-indicatingsignal outputting section 97.

The seal deciding section 96 comprises a color extracting section 100for extracting the pixels of the colors of the sealing pins 55 and 59from the image data, and a deciding section 101 for comparing the numberof extracted pixels of the color extracted by the color extractingsection 100 or the proportion of the extracted pixels accounted for bythe pixels with a threshold value for the reference of decision tothereby make a decision. In the case where the number of pixels or thepixel proportion exceeds the threshold value, the deciding section 101gives a decision of defective sealing. That is, since the heads of thesealing pins 55 and 59 are projected by the same degree as that of theprojections 71 and 75 before sealing and since the heads are retractedbelow the projections 71 and 75 after sealing, if the heads of thesealing pins 55 and 59 are obliquely imaged by the seal imaging cameras92 and 93, the number of extracted pixels of the sealing pins 55 and 59extracted by the color extracting section 100 varies before and aftersealing. Therefore, comparing the number of extracted pixels or the likewith the reference value for decision makes it possible to decidewhether or not the sealing means 49 and 50 have properly sealed.

In the case where the seal deciding section 96 decides that the sealingis defective, the defect-indicating signal output section 97 outputs adefect-indicating signal to the conveyor control means 89. The conveyorcontrol means 89 has the function of controlling the first conveyor 85such that the latter stops each time a pachinko machine 20 which is asubject of inspection reaches the predetermined imaging position, andtransfers the pachinko machine 20 to the second conveyor 86 after theimaging of the sealing means 49 and 50 by the seal imaging means 87; andthe function of controlling the second conveyor 86, the cylinder 94,etc., such that in the case where the seal deciding section 88 decidesthat the sealing is defective, the second conveyor 86 is stopped afterthe pachinko machine 20 in question is placed on the second conveyor 86,whereupon the second conveyor 86 is transversely moved from the transferline 1 to the sealing work position A, and after the sealing means 49and 50 have sealed at the sealing work position A, the second conveyor86 is sent back to the transfer line 1 to transfer the pachinko machine20 downstream.

Seal confirmation is performed such that when the pachinko machine 20reaches the imaging position on the first conveyor 85, the latter stopsso that the pachinko machine 20 stops at the imaging position, in whichstopped state the seal imaging cameras 92 and 93 image the sealing pins55 and 59 of the sealing means 49 and 50, and the seal deciding means 88decides whether the sealing state of the sealing means 49 and 50 is goodor bad on the basis of the image data. The seal deciding means 88subjects the image data to filtration in the color extracting section100 to extract the pixels of the colors of the sealing pins 55 and 59for the respective sealing means 49 and 50. And, the seal decidingsection 96 compares the number of extracted pixels with the referencefor decision and if the number of extracted pixels exceeds the referencefor decision, for example, it decides that the sealing by the sealingmeans 49 and 50 is defective.

If any one of the two sealing means 49 and 50 is defective in sealing,the defect-indicating signal output section 97 outputs adefect-indicating signal according to the decision of being defectivefrom the seal deciding section 96 at that time. And, when the pachinkomachine 20 given a decision of being defective in sealing moves from thefirst conveyor 85 onto the second conveyor 86, the latter stopstransferring and moves from the transfer line 1 to the seal workingposition A in the direction of arrow a, and the pachinko machine 20defective in sealing is removed from the transfer line 1. At the sealwork position A, the sealing pins 55 and 59 of the sealing means 49 and50 given a decision of being defective in sealing are pressed to sealthe main circuit board case 39. After this sealing, the second conveyor86 moves to the transfer line 1 to transfer the pachinko machine 20downstream. In the case where the sealing means 49 and 50 are incapableof sealing, the pachinko machine 20 in question is removed from the sealwork position A. In addition, the pachinko machine 20 after being sealedmay be sent back to the first conveyor 85 so as to confirm the sealedstate again.

The main body inspecting line 7 is used to execute the main bodyinspecting step 16 for final inspection of the pachinko machine 20 afterconfirmation of sealing, with a repairing table 115 installed downstreamand laterally of the main body inspecting line 7. In the main bodyinspecting step 16, the final inspection of each pachinko machine 20after confirmation of sealing is conducted. And, if there is a defectiveplace, the pachinko machine 20 in question is taken out onto therepairing table 115 and repaired, whereupon it is sent back to thetransfer line 1.

The certificate stamp affixing line 8 is used to execute the certificatestamp affixing step 17 for affixing the management certificate stamp 51to the main circuit board case 39 of the pachinko machine 20. Thepachinko machine 20 subjected to the final inspection is sent to thecertificate stamp affixing line 8 by the transfer line 1, and themanagement certificate stamp 51 having the circuit board identificationinformation 79, etc., printed thereon in the certificate stamp affixingstep 17 for the certificate stamp affixing line 8 is affixed to the maincircuit board case 39. The affixing of the management certificate stamp51 may be automatically effected by an affixing machine or it may beeffected manually.

The intrinsic information reading line 9 is a line for executing theintrinsic information reading step 18 for reading the intrinsicinformation on the pachinko machine 20. The intrinsic informationreading line 9, as shown in FIG. 11, is provided with a third conveyor103 disposed on the transfer line 1, and an information imaging means104 disposed laterally, and in the vicinity, of the third conveyor 103.The information imaging means 104 is connected to a management machine105, such as a personal computer, suitably through an interface or thelike.

And, the intrinsic information reading step 18 includes an intrinsicinformation imaging step 106 for imaging intrinsic information, such asthe intrinsic identification information 48 on the electronic part 47and the circuit board identification information 79 of the main circuitboard case 39, a data converting step 108 in which the data processingsection 107 of the management machine 105 analyzes the imaged intrinsicinformation to convert it into predetermined data, and a data storingstep 110 for storing said predetermined data in the storing section 109of the management machine 105; and a database for management isconstructed in the data storing step 110.

The information imaging means 104 is provided with a first informationimaging camera 111 for imaging the intrinsic identification information48 applied to the electronic part 47 of the main control circuit board38 in the main circuit board case 39, and a second information imagingcamera 112 for imaging the circuit board identification information 79entered in the management certificate stamp 51 of the main circuit boardcase 39. The information imaging cameras 111 and 112 are each composedof a CCD camera or the like, and the first information imaging camera111 is focused on the intrinsic identification information 48 on theelectronic part 47 and so is the second information imaging camera 112on the circuit board identification information 79 of the main circuitboard case 39.

The management machine 105 is arranged to take in image data includingthe intrinsic identification information 48 and circuit boardidentification information 79 imaged by the information imaging cameras111 and 112 of the information imaging means 104, to analyze the imagedata so as to convert it into character data for the intrinsicidentification information 48 and circuit board identificationinformation 79, and to construct a database for management on the basisof the character data for the intrinsic identification information 48and circuit board identification information 79. In addition, thedatabase is constructed by combining the intrinsic identificationinformation 48 and circuit board identification information 79 with themachine model name, the date of manufacture, the date of shipment, thename of the destination game parlor, the date of reception, and othernecessary data.

When each pachinko machine 20 subjected to the final inspection reachesa predetermined position associated with the third conveyor 103, thelatter stops to thereby stop the pachinko machine 20. And, theinformation imaging cameras 111 and 112 of the information imaging means104 image the intrinsic identification information 48 on the electronicpart 47 and the circuit board identification information 79, whereuponthe third conveyor 103 is started to transfer the pachinko machine 20downstream. When the information imaging cameras 111 and 112 image theintrinsic identification information 48 and the circuit boardidentification information 79, the management machine 105 takes in andanalyzes the image data, and converts the image data into characterdata. And, thereafter, the management machine 105 constructs a databaseon the basis of the intrinsic identification information 48, and circuitboard identification information 79 and stores the data in thecorresponding column of a data table.

The sealing states of the sealing means 49 and 50 are confirmed in thismanner and upon completion of the final inspection of the pachinkomachine 20, the intrinsic identification information 48 on the pachinkomachine 20, the circuit board identification information 79, etc., areimaged and read by the information imaging means 104, and a database forcircuit board management is constructed on the basis of the intrinsicidentification information 48, the circuit board identificationinformation 79, etc.; thus, such database can be easily constructed.Further, dishonest acts can be reliably prevented during a period fromthe sealing of the main circuit board case 39 to the reading of theintrinsic identification information 48 and circuit board identificationinformation 79.

Further, if a database for circuit board management is constructed onthe basis of the intrinsic identification information 48, circuit boardidentification information 49, etc., then in the case where there is aninquiry, such as a doubt about dishonest act on the main control circuitboard 38 of a certain pachinko machine 20, from a game parlor, theintrinsic identification information 48 on the electronic part 47 can befound by detection on the basis of the circuit board identificationinformation 79, etc. Therefore, by comparing the intrinsicidentification information 48 on the electronic part 47 on the databasewith the intrinsic identification information 48 on the electronic part47 mounted on the main control circuit board 38 of the actual pachinkomachine 20, whether or not the electronic part 47 is a dishonestlysubstituted one can be easily decided.

The packaging line 10 is used to execute the packaging step 19 forpackaging the pachinko machine 20 after being assembled. In thepackaging step 19, pachinko machines 20 whose intrinsic information hasbeen read are individually packaged in packing cases or the like in sucha manner as to enable shipment. Thereby, the operation ranging fromassembling to packaging of the pachinko machine 20 is completed.

FIG. 12 shows by way of example a second embodiment of the invention. Inthis embodiment, a certificate stamp affixing line 8 is installeddownstream of the intrinsic information reading line 9, so that afterthe intrinsic information reading step 18 has been executed in theintrinsic information reading line 9, the certificate stamp affixingstep 17 is executed in the certificate stamp affixing line 8.

In this case, since the certificate stamp affixing step 17 for affixingthe management certificate stamp 51 to the main circuit board case 39 isexecuted after the intrinsic information reading step 18, the reading ofthe circuit board identification information 79 of the managementcertificate stamp 51 is not effected although the reading of theintrinsic identification information 48 on the electronic part 47 iseffected in the intrinsic information reading step 18.

When a database for circuit board management is to be constructed on thebasis of the circuit board identification information 79 and intrinsicidentification information 48 as in the first embodiment, it isnecessary to read the circuit board identification information 79 andthe intrinsic identification information 48 in the intrinsic informationreading step 18. However, in the case where the intrinsic identificationinformation 48 is required but the circuit board identificationinformation 79 is not required, the circuit board identificationinformation 79 need not be read in the intrinsic information readingstep 18.

Therefore, which intrinsic information is to be read in the intrinsicinformation reading step 18 depends on the form in which the data afterthe reading of the intrinsic information is utilized, and it issufficient to read at least the intrinsic identification information 48from the standpoint, e.g., of prevention of dishonest acts on theelectronic part 47. In addition, it is possible to make an arrangementsuch that a circuit board identification information reading line isinstalled downstream of the certificate stamp affixing line 8, so thatafter the management certificate stamp 51 has been affixed, the circuitboard identification information reading step is executed to read thecircuit board identification information 79 on the managementcertificate stamp 51 in the circuit board identification informationreading line.

The embodiments of the invention have so far been described, but theinvention is not limited to these embodiments and various changes andmodifications may be made in the invention without departing from thespirit and scope thereof. For example, each embodiment shows by way ofexample the case of employing an assembling line in which a series ofoperations from the assembling of the game board 23 in the game boardassembling step 11 to the final step of completion of the pachinkomachine 20 are continuously performed; however, in the case where afterthe assembling of the game board 23, the management certificate stamp 51is affixed and the game board 23 as a single body is shipped, forexample, in the case where after the assembling of the game board 23,the main circuit board case 39 associated therewith is sealed by thesealing means 49 and 50 and the management certificate stamp 51 isaffixed, the invention may be likewise embodied in the assembling linefor the game board 23.

Further, in the case where after the main control circuit board 38 hasbeen put in the main circuit board case 39 for a game machine, the maincircuit board case 39 is closed and sealed by the sealing means 49 and50, the sealing state of the sealing means 49 and 50 may be confirmedand the intrinsic identification information 48 on the electronic part47, etc., may be read at the point of time before the main circuit boardcase 39 is mounted on the game board 23.

It is desirable to continuously perform the seal confirming step 5 bythe seal imaging means 87, etc., and the intrinsic information readingstep 18 for the electronic part 47. However, seal-confirmed game boards23 or pachinko machines 20 may be stocked and thereafter the stockedgame boards 23 or pachinko machines 20 may be successively sent to theintrinsic information reading line 9 to have their intrinsic informationread. Therefore, it may suffice if the sealed state of the main circuitboard case 39 established by the sealing means 49 and 50 can beconfirmed before the intrinsic information reading step 18 for theelectronic part 47 of the game board 23 or pachinko machine 20 which isa subject of inspection.

In the case also where the invention is employed in the assembling linefor the pachinko machine 20, the invention may be likewise embodied inthe assembling line where game boards 23 are successively assembled inthe game board assembling step 11 in the game board assembling line 2and stocked and thereafter the stocked game boards 23 are taken out andmounted on the front frame 22 in the front frame assembling step 13.

In the case where there are defective places found in the main bodyinspecting step 16 in the main body inspection line 7, in the describedembodiment, game boards 23, pachinko machines 20, etc., which aresubjects of inspection are once removed from the transfer line 1 andtransferred to the repairing table 115, where they are repaired, andthen they are sent back to the transfer line 1 and transferred to thenext step; however, pachinko machines 20 having defective places may becompletely removed from the transfer line 1.

It is only necessary that the sealing means 49 and 50 be capable ofsealing the main circuit board case 39 and that if they are opened aftersealing, traces of opening remain in part of the sealing means 49 and 50or main circuit board case 39. The arrangement for sealing the maincircuit board case 39 may be employed by using other than the sealingpins 52-55 and 56-59. In view of the fact that in the case of thepachinko machine 20, the electronic part 47, such as an IC, mounted onmain control circuit board 38 which controls the game actions on thegame board 23 side is the most important, the case where the maincircuit board case 39 is sealed by the sealing means 49 and 50 isillustrated; however, the sealing means may be likewise employed forvarious circuit board cases other than the main circuit board case 39.It may suffice if the main circuit board case 39 is capable of beingopened/closed.

The database for management constructed in association with the modelname of game machine, the date of manufacture, the date of shipment, thename of the destination game parlor, the date of reception, theintrinsic identification information 48, the circuit boardidentification information 79, and other necessary data may be madeaccessible from a plurality of manufacturing plants, the head office,sales offices, etc., through an electric communications line, e.g., theinternet. In this case, it is desirable that database servers beprovided in suitable places, including the head office, so that theintrinsic identification information 48, circuit board identificationinformation 79, etc., obtained by the management machine 105 in eachmanufacturing plant may be transmitted to the database servers to enablethe latter to manage the information in the lump.

Further, enabling the manufacturing plants, etc., to have the databasefor management in common in this manner makes it possible to quicklyinform the corresponding manufacturing plants, etc., of information aswhen some of the parts are found defective. For example, when the factthat the predetermined lot of electronic part 47 has defects has beenfound in the predetermined manufacturing plant, the information can bequickly transmitted on the basis of the information, etc., in thedatabase to the corresponding manufacturing plants using the electronicparts 47 in the same lot, enabling the production of the defective partsto be reduced to a minimum, preventing the defective parts from beingdelivered to the destination.

Further, in each embodiment, a pachinko machine 20 has been shown as anexample of shot ball game machine. However, the invention may belikewise embodied in shot ball game machines, such as arrange ballmachines and mahjong ball game machines, other than pachinko machines20, and also in various game machines, such as rotary drum type gamemachines, other than shot ball game machines.

INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY

As described above, the game machine circuit board case inspectionmethod, and a game board or game machine inspection method of thepresent invention are very useful for use in the assembling step andproducing step for game machines, such as pachinko machines and rotarydrum type game machines.

1. A game machine circuit board case inspection method for inspecting acircuit board case storing a control circuit board having apredetermined electronic part mounted thereon, the game machine circuitboard case inspection method comprising a seal confirming step forconfirming whether or not said circuit board case has been sealed bysealing means, and an intrinsic information reading step for reading theintrinsic identification information on said electronic part stored insaid circuit board case after said seal confirming step.
 2. A game boardor game machine inspection method for inspecting a game board or gamemachine provided with a circuit board case for storing a control circuitboard having a predetermined electronic part mounted thereon, the gameboard or game machine inspection method comprising a seal confirmingstep for confirming whether or not said circuit board case has beensealed by sealing means, and an intrinsic information reading step forreading the intrinsic identification information on said electronic partstored in said circuit board case after said seal confirming step.
 3. Agame board or game machine inspection method as set forth in claim 2,wherein said seal confirming step includes an imaging step for imagingthe sealing state of said sealing means, and a seal deciding step foranalyzing the image data imaged in said imaging step to decide whetheror not said sealing means have sealed.
 4. A game board or game machineinspection method as set forth in claim 2 or 3, wherein said intrinsicinformation reading step includes an imaging step for imaging theintrinsic identification information on said electronic part, a dataconverting step for analyzing the image data imaged in said imaging stepto convert it into predetermined data, and a storing step for storingsaid predetermined data converted in said data converting step in astoring section.
 5. A game board or game machine inspection method asset forth claim 2 or 3, characterized in that between said sealconfirming step and said intrinsic information reading step, there is aremoving step for removing said game board or game machine in which saidsealing means have not sealed.
 6. A game board or game machineinspection method as set forth claim 2 or 3, wherein between said sealconfirming step and said intrinsic information reading step, there is acertificate stamp affixing step for affixing a management certificatestamp having the circuit board identification information writtenthereon to said circuit board case.
 7. A game board or game machineinspection method as set forth in claim 6, wherein said intrinsicinformation reading step includes an imaging step for imaging theintrinsic identification information on said electronic part and saidcircuit board identification information written on the managementcertificate stamp on said circuit board case, a data converting step foranalyzing the image date imaged in the imaging step and converting theimage data into predetermined data, and a storing step for storing saidpredetermined data converted in said data converting step in a storingsection.